As you read here previously, recently a much ballyhooed new soda policy was announced by the major soda companies.
Unfortunately, some insiders are concerned that the move was simply one big PR tactic. In fact, Michele Simon, one such critic — who I quoted before — brands all the hoopla as a "bogus agreement."
You want to pay attention to Simon. As director of the Center for Informed Food Choices and author of the upcoming book, Appetite for Profit, she knows what she’s talkin about. Not only that, but she’s on our side — the public.
Read Michele’s insightful remarks on the CommonDreams.org website about this alleged move to remove soda from our nation’s schools. She writes:
"The headlines certainly sound impressive: `Companies pulling sodas out of school’ claimed the Associated Press; `Bottlers agree to a school ban on sweet drinks’ said the New York Times.’ These and hundreds of other news stories around the nation this week gave the impression that the beverage industry had an epiphany and magically, all soda will disappear from schools forever.
"Only one problem: nothing could be further from the truth."
Hurrah to Michele for doing her part to set people straight.
"We are told that the `goal’ is to implement the guidelines in 75 percent of schools by the 2008-09 school year, with the rest coming on board a year later. That’s quite a long phase-in period given the imminent public health crisis our children face. How this goal can be achieved given the lack of oversight is a complete mystery."
Michele raises some fascinating points. Here’s another:
"Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association said: "This is a voluntary policy, but I think schools will want to follow it.” Excuse me? It’s up to the schools to follow an agreement that the soda companies signed?"
She also rightly points out other huge flaws to the deal:
"Even from a health standpoint, the deal is hardly impressive. Diet soda full of artificial sweeteners, sports drinks high in sugar, and other empty-calorie beverages with zero nutritional value are still allowed in high schools. Also, parents concerned about soda advertising in schools will not be pleased with the agreement. Not a word is mentioned about the ubiquitous marketing children are subjected to daily in the form of branded score boards, school supplies, sports bags, and cups (just to name a few), which is required by exclusive Coke and Pepsi contracts. It’s no secret that branding is the main purpose of these arrangements. Big Cola may shift a few products around or serve up fewer calories with this new deal, but what’s most important to them is maintaining access to young and impressionable consumers in a captive environment."
Read Michele’s entire editorial at CommonDreams.org or at the Organic Consumers Association.
A very special thanks to Maida, a member of my online KickSugar group, who often sends me articles of interest.